Children to be Prioritized for the Pfizer Vaccine

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, says Jamaica will receive its first shipment of 200,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday, August 17, with children and adolescents being a priority. This represents the first portion of approximately 600,000 doses and aims to boost the Government’s COVID-19 vaccination programme.

In an announcement on Thursday, August 12 during the COVID-19 Conversations press briefing, Dr. Tufton said the administration of these vaccines will begin on August 23 at all vaccination sites.

“We will focus on 15 years and older with parental consent as well as children 12 years and older with comorbid conditions, and that’s for the Pfizer vaccine,” Dr. Tufton said.

He also explained that the Pfizer vaccine has been proven to be safe and is recommended for use in children and adolescents. He adds that the Government aims to prioritise education and face-to-face learning in the new academic year.

“The clinical assessments have been done and as you know, we go by what the science proves. The Pfizer vaccine will now be available to a younger age cohort that is 12 and older, particularly if there are challenges with your health status and certainly 15 and older for sure. There are some special programmes that we are planning that will involve pulling both child and parent out at a location to provide that vaccine,” he informed.

The Minister suggested that the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Information on how students 15 years and older, especially those sitting exit examinations, can be facilitated for early vaccination.

“We have been pitching vaccine take-up for our teachers. We will now have an opportunity to pitch and strategise and encourage vaccine take-up for students or a fairly large segment of our student population and that double approach will…enhance protection in the classroom. We encourage our parents and our young people to be a part of this process as we give specific details in the week to come,” he said.

In the meantime, Dr. Tufton says the African Medical Supplies Platform, through negotiations, has donated a batch of approximately 118,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which will arrive in the coming week. 

The Minister says these doses will also be administered at all vaccination sites beginning August 23, 2021. And the Government expects another shipment the week after the first shipment and then another in September. He noted that the Government has booked and paid down on approximately 1.9 million doses of those vaccines.